The UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has sent a team of inspectors to Tokyo to assist the Japan Transport Safety Board investigation into Tuesday’s accident.
The 2 January collision at Haneda Airport cost the lives of five people.
AAIB said: “The investigation is being led by the Japan Transport Safety Board, and the AAIB as State of Manufacture of the Rolls-Royce engines fitted to the Airbus A350 has appointed an accredited representative.”
Airbus has also sent a team of specialists after the Japan Airlines A350-900 crashed into another aircraft while landing at Haneda airport.
Flight JAL516 from Sapporo New Chitose Airport to Haneda International Airport collided with with a DHC-8 aircraft shortly after 17:47 (local time) on 2 January 2024.
All 379 passengers and 12 crew members on board the Japan Airlines plane were evacuated, but five people aboard the Japanese coastguard plane died.
A sixth member of crew onboard the Japanese coastguard plane survived the incident.
Airbus said in a statement: “The aircraft involved in the accident, registered under the number JA13XJ, was MSN 538, delivered to Japan Airlines from the production line on 10 November 2021. It was powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines.
“In line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 13 recommendations, Airbus will provide technical assistance to the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) of France and to the Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) in charge of the investigation. For this purpose, Airbus is presently dispatching a team of specialists to assist the authorities.
“Further updates will be provided as soon as consolidated information is available and Airbus is authorised to release them.
“Our concerns and sympathy go to the families, friends and loved ones affected by the accident.”
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